Meadow Song - Single Review by The Reconnoiter..

A peaceful meadow-like inner space that initially feels like refuge from pressure and pain.  Over time, the person realizes this calm place may blur reality and stall emotional growth, revealing a deeper truth that cannot be ignored.  In the end, the pull toward awareness disrupts the comfort, suggesting that staying in illusion is no longer possible.  It’s another fave song from the fifth album by the Leicester, England-based band. 

Buy and listen here!

The Solid and the Hollow - Album Review by The Active Listener...

 

"The Junipers have gifted us with yet another instant classic. Absolutely essential listening for anyone with an ear for timeless pop music."

Great to see a new release from another of our old favourites, this time Leicester’s The Junipers. 

I've loved everything they've released, and that status quo remains unchanged here. If anything, they're getting better.

The Junipers are one of those bands whose albums sound very carefully crafted in the studio, but also give the impression that if you wandered into their rehearsal space on any given Sunday afternoon you’d hear something with equal polish. It all sounds so natural and unlaboured that it’s hard to reconcile these guys having to go off and do day jobs as it sounds like they do this 24/7. It’s unjust for someone to do something this well and not be able to earn a full time living from it. 

But what does it sound like you ask? A more democratic Wings. A contemporary Honeybus. A more pastoral Teenage Fanclub. Just go and listen to it.

With The Solid and The Hollow, the Junipers have gifted us with yet another instant classic. Absolutely essential listening for anyone with an ear for timeless pop music.  

Buy on vinyl, CD or digital here!

The Solid and the Hollow - Album Review by Power Popaholic..

"There are lots of great moments within the songs that evoke a mood akin to a bright summer day"

Robyn Gibson (lead guitar, vocals) says it best, “… it became a kind of nostalgia trip,” and the band’s fifth album keeps those stylistic touches that recall The Beatles, The Association, and The Free Design. “Oneless” is a subtle opener, with Gibson’s gentle vocal leading the way. It’s the template for most of the songs to follow, with the exceptions being the driving bass line lead on the psyche-pop of “When She Turns” and spacey synths on “Fishes.”

There are lots of great moments within the songs that evoke a mood akin to a bright summer day. “She Makes The Sun Shine” is especially buoyant with a rhythm line akin to The Beatles’ “Rain.” “Meadow Song” has a wonderful mix of keys, guitars, and layered sounds, and slowly builds into something great. “Swan” is another breezy melody that wallows in the dreamlike atmosphere, with subtleties in the harmonies that audiophiles will appreciate. If you fell in love with this band from their super catchy ‘Euphonious Trolley’ EP, this album is its spiritual cousin. Highly Recommended.

The Solid and the Hollow - Album Review by I Don't Hear a Single..

"The Junipers have never released a duff album. I'm deliberately trying not to mention songs because this is a proper album to be listened to from start to finish. Absolutely essential"

 Just as with David Brookings, I return to our very early days, a decade ago, when I reviewed The Junipers' Red Bouquet Fair. I've been with them ever since and enjoyed Robyn Gibson's Bob Of The Pops adventures through the period to now.

A new Junipers album is also a reason to celebrate as they bring my beloved Psych Pop back to life. More recently, the quartet have been as interesting as ever, but been a little more mellow. None of that here, this is a real Guitar album, back to earlier days and a full revelation of how great Psych Pop is. 

The Solid And The Hollow not only makes an old man very happy, but is also one of the best psych pop albums for a long time.The whole thing is beautifully arranged, the instrumentals are works of art and show off Gibson's dulcet tones beautifully. 

It really sounds as though it could have been recorded in those hazy 60's days when the genre took off. But there are also hints of the late 80s revival. The album offers up both beat and the more mellow, but all are arranged perfectly, providing a dreamlike vibe or a killer Psych Beat. 

I'm deliberately trying not to mention songs because this is a proper album to be listened to from start to finish. But as you head over you may want to compare the 60s Beat of When She Turns with the wonderful Piano led closing masterpiece that is Moments Of Truth.

In between you get everything that the band is great at, Mellotron, jangle and stunning mood setters. The Junipers have never released a duff album, but this is more of a Guitar album, a step back to the early days if you like and no one masters Psych Pop like these four. Absolutely Essential!